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You’re also currently in two supergroups: Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian; and then there’s The Circle with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson. And both those groups are continuing that tradition of hard hitting classic rock. What kind of audience are you finding out there these days for that kind of music?

Oh man, it’s great. When I do my Zeppelin shows, I can see the Black Country Communion t-shirts, the Circle t-shirts out there. Um, I’ve been getting a lot of the “red heads” now, which we call the Sammy Hagar fans, coming to see me play since I started playing with Sammy. Which is just great.

We’ve actually just finished an original new album for The Circle. All new music that I helped to collaborate on with Sammy for a couple of things. So I’m really looking forward to that, it’s a very concept-kind of album and it’s meant to be listened to in a specific order which kind of tells the story. He’s been really inspired as of late and I think it’s going to be some of his best stuff. It’s definitely diverse, when you listen to it in the order.

What he wanted to do was do something very different than he’s ever done before, which is setting you on a journey like the old days when you put on an album and listened to it from start to finish where the placement for each song is vital to make sense. So we’ve got that finished now.

And actually on Father’s Day I was on tour and I went into the studio because he sent me a new song that he wanted to add to the album. So I went in on Father’s Day and recorded drums in upstate New York. But it was great because I found a great new studio which I’d love to go back to. It was fun to go do, so literally I got the mix back from him yesterday. So yeah, to be part of that band and to play live with Sammy and Michael and Vic, the most positive people and so much fun. It’s a whole different vibe. It’s a party.

Sammy is so up and so positive and Mike is such a wonderful guy and smiling and it’s all fun, you know, it’s that…’life’s too short to be miserable”. I mean I’m English so I can be very half-empty. Sammy is always half full. He’s like, “Don’t be English around me. This is fun. You have got nothing to be worried about.”

You’re also currently in two supergroups: Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Sherinian; and then there’s The Circle with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson. And both those groups are continuing that tradition of hard hitting classic rock. What kind of audience are you finding out there these days for that kind of music?

Oh man, it’s great. When I do my Zeppelin shows, I can see the Black Country Communion t-shirts, the Circle t-shirts out there. Um, I’ve been getting a lot of the “red heads” now, which we call the Sammy Hagar fans, coming to see me play since I started playing with Sammy. Which is just great.

We’ve actually just finished an original new album for The Circle. All new music that I helped to collaborate on with Sammy for a couple of things. So I’m really looking forward to that, it’s a very concept-kind of album and it’s meant to be listened to in a specific order which kind of tells the story. He’s been really inspired as of late and I think it’s going to be some of his best stuff. It’s definitely diverse, when you listen to it in the order.

What he wanted to do was do something very different than he’s ever done before, which is setting you on a journey like the old days when you put on an album and listened to it from start to finish where the placement for each song is vital to make sense. So we’ve got that finished now.

And actually on Father’s Day I was on tour and I went into the studio because he sent me a new song that he wanted to add to the album. So I went in on Father’s Day and recorded drums in upstate New York. But it was great because I found a great new studio which I’d love to go back to. It was fun to go do, so literally I got the mix back from him yesterday. So yeah, to be part of that band and to play live with Sammy and Michael and Vic, the most positive people and so much fun. It’s a whole different vibe. It’s a party.

Sammy is so up and so positive and Mike is such a wonderful guy and smiling and it’s all fun, you know, it’s that…’life’s too short to be miserable”. I mean I’m English so I can be very half-empty. Sammy is always half full. He’s like, “Don’t be English around me. This is fun. You have got nothing to be worried about.”

It’s great we finally have a new album coming, but I hope it’s worth the wait. Conceptual sounds good, but with all Sammys many projects, how has he had time to do the songs???. I just hope it’s good material and not half assed.

It’s great we finally have a new album coming, but I hope it’s worth the wait. Conceptual sounds good, but with all Sammys many projects, how has he had time to do the songs???. I just hope it’s good material and not half assed.

Yep, I agree. Also hope the hawaii shirt stays in the closet for this one...

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar has shuttered his upscale restaurant, El Paseo, after seven years in Mill Valley, the musician’s hometown.

In a message posted on El Paseo’s website*, Hagar explained the sudden closure.

“This wonderful, beautiful, passionate labor of love has become far too time consuming for me,” he wrote. “I’m in the process of finishing a new album with ‘The Circle’ and need to concentrate on my music, my performances and my TV series.”

The former Van Halen frontman went on to explain that he also wants to be able to spend more quality time with his family.

“The day to day problems of operating a restaurant have prevented me from doing a lot of the things that I need to be doing,” he said. “You might say that I have been dealing with a lot of headaches and have simply run out of aspirin.”

But Hagar, who owns several other restaurants, including four outposts of Cabo Wabo Cantina and five locations of Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill, promised that this is not the end for El Paseo. He plans to revisit the restaurant in October and hopes to build a team and start over.

El Paseo’s history in Mill Valley dates back to 1948. It was a French restaurant until Hagar and partner and celebrity chef Tyler Florence took over in 2011 and transformed it into a steakhouse. When that business partnership ended, Hagar changed the menu to Spanish cuisine with a Northern California focus under the leadership of executive chef Todd Shoberg.

After 7 years, this wonderful, beautiful, passionate labor of love has become far too time consuming for me. I’m in the process of finishing a new album with “The Circle” and need to concentrate on my music, my performances and my TV series. I also want to be able to spend more quality time with my family. The day to day problems of operating a restaurant have prevented me from doing a lot of the things that I need to be doing. You might say that I have been dealing with a lot of headaches and have simply run out of aspirin.

Once I get to the Birthday Bash in October, I will revisit El Paseo, build a team and start over from scratch.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support, and in the meantime, please visit some of the other great restaurants in downtown Mill Valley.

Sam doesn't like to lose. This restaurant isn't profitable for him anymore, I'm guessing. It doesn't have the "Cabo Wabo Cantina" type brand. Plus, you just don't close abruptly because you have other comittments taking your time. That's why you delegate.

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Yeah there's really no benefit to him talking about this anymore. What he's saying isn't inaccurate, but talking crap about a dead man who isn't on the ballot and isn't creating news anymore doesn't...